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Mitigation of post-traumatic stress symptoms by Cannabis resin: a review of the clinical and neurobiological evidence.

Authors: Torsten Passie, Hinderk M. Emrich, Matthias Karst, Simon D. Brandt, John H. Halpern
Drug Testing and Analysis, July-August 2012

It is known from clinical studies that some patients attempt to cope with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by using recreational drugs. This review presents a case report of a 19-year-old male patient with a spectrum of severe PTSD symptoms, such as intens…

Cannabidiol enhances anandamide signaling and alleviates psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia.

Authors: F. M. Leweke, D. Piomelli, F. Pahlisch, D. Muhl, C. W. Gerth, C. Hoyer, J. Klosterkötter, et al
Translational Psychiatry, 20 March 2012

Cannabidiol is a component of marijuana that does not activate cannabinoid receptors, but moderately inhibits the degradation of the endocannabinoid anandamide. We previously reported that an elevation of anandamide levels in cerebrospinal fluid inversely correlated to psychot…

Prescribing cannabis for harm reduction.

Authors: Mark Collen
Harm Reduction Journal, 1 January 2012

Neuropathic pain affects between 5% and 10% of the US population and can be refractory to treatment. Opioids may be recommended as a second-line pharmacotherapy but have risks including overdose and death. Cannabis has been shown to be effective for treating nerve pain without…

Potential protective effects of cannabidiol on neuroanatomical alterations in cannabis users and psychosis: a critical review.

Authors: Derik Hermann , Miriam Schneider
Current Pharmaceutical Design, 2012

Cannabis use and the development of schizophrenic psychoses share a variety of similarities. Both start during late adolescence; go along with neuropsychological deficits, reduced activity, motivation deficits, and hallucinations suggesting impairment of similar brain structur…

Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Severity and Marijuana Use Coping Motives: A Test of the Mediating Role of Non-Judgmental Acceptance within a Trauma-Exposed Community Sample.

Authors: Marcel O. Bonn-Miller, Anka A. Vujanovic, Michael P. Twohig, Johnna L. Medina, Jennifer L. Huggins Published in Mindfulness 25 May 2010   Abstract We examined the role of non-judgmental…

If cannabis caused schizophrenia–how many cannabis users may need to be prevented in order to prevent one case of schizophrenia? England and Wales calculations.

Authors: Matt Hickman, Peter Vickerman, John Macleod, Glyn Lewis, Stan Zammit, et al
Addiction, November 2009

BACKGROUND: We consider how many cannabis users may need to be prevented in order to prevent one case of schizophrenia or psychosis [defined as number needed to prevent (NNP)]. METHOD: Calculation for England and Wales using best available estimates of: incidence of schizophre…

Assessing the impact of cannabis use on trends in diagnosed schizophrenia in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2005.

Authors: Martin Frisher, Ilana Crome, Orsolina Martino, Peter Croft
Schizophrenia Research, September 2009

A recent systematic review concluded that cannabis use increases risk of psychotic outcomes independently of confounding and transient intoxication effects. Furthermore, a model of the association between cannabis use and schizophrenia indicated that the incidence and prevalen…

Synthetic delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (dronabinol) can improve the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Authors: Glenn Schwarcz, Basawaraj Karajgi, Richard McCarthy
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, June 2009

We are reporting improvement of symptoms of schizophrenia in a small group of patients who received the cannabinoid agonist dronabinol (synthetic Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Before this report, cannabinoids had usually been associated with worsening of psychotic symptoms. I…

The use of a synthetic cannabinoid in the management of treatment-resistant nightmares in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Authors: George A. Fraser
CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics, Winter 2009

This is the report of an open label clinical trial to evaluate the effects of nabilone, an endocannabinoid receptor agonist, on treatment-resistant nightmares in patients diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHODS: Charts of 47 patients diagnosed with PTSD an…

Neuroanatomic comparison of bipolar adolescents with and without cannabis use disorders.

Authors: Kelly Jarvis, Melissa P. DelBello, Neil Mills, Igor Elman, Stephen M. Strakowski, Caleb M. Adler
Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, December 2008

OBJECTIVE: Co-occurrence of substance use and bipolar disorders is both common and associated with poor treatment response and greater functional impairment than either disorder alone. The neurophysiological correlates of this co-morbidity however, remain unclear. In this pilo…

Association of the cannabinoid receptor gene (CNR1) with ADHD and post‐traumatic stress disorder.

Authors: Ake T. Lu, Matthew N. Ogdie, Marjo‐Ritta Järvelin, Irma K. Moilanen, Sandra K. Loo, et al
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics, 22 January 2008

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly heritable disorder affecting some 5-10% of children and 4-5% of adults. The cannabinoid receptor gene (CNR1) is a positional candidate gene due to its location near an identified ADHD linkage peak on chromosome 6, its…

Marijuana dependence and its treatment.

Authors: Alan J. Budney, Roger Roffman, Robert S. Stephens, Denise Walker
Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, December 2007

The prevalence of marijuana abuse and dependence disorders has been increasing among adults and adolescents in the United States. This paper reviews the problems associated with marijuana use, including unique characteristics of marijuana dependence, and the results of laborat…